Gain Control Over Sex Addiction

For some, sex is not just part of a healthy life: It compels behavior that is destructive, dangerous and addictive. Sex addiction can profoundly impact relationships and lives, but there is hope for addicts. Like any addiction, it can be treated and controlled.

At Caron, we can help you build a treatment program that meets your needs.

What is Sex Addiction?

Sex
addiction is a form of hypersexuality in which the individual is unable to
control sexual urges and behaviors. It is characterized by failure (despite the
addict’s efforts) to control or curtail sexual behavior even though it leads to
harmful consequences. Often, sex addiction interferes with daily life and eventually results in serious physical, social and
psychological complications.

Sex addicts’ behavior is typically compulsive, concealed and obsessive. Rather than integrating sex into life and relationships, sex addicts use sex as a means of coping with stress, dealing with loneliness, handling boredom and feeling important or powerful. Like other forms of addiction, sex addiction leads addicts to develop tolerance to sexual behavior and experience withdrawal symptoms when they are not engaging in sexual activity. Some sex addicts also suffer from cybersex addiction, which involves compulsive cybersex, pornography viewing and other sex-related online behaviors.

Sex addiction manifests in a variety of risky, obsessive and maladaptive behaviors. Some of the most common include:

Pornography Addiction

Symptoms of pornography addiction include

living a double life by hiding most or all porn use

anger when asked to stop using porn

inability to stop using porn

Treating pornography addiction.

Although pornography addiction is different from substance addiction, many of the mechanisms that cause it are the same. As a result, similar therapies—including cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and support groups—are used to treat porn addiction. Other methods, such as Internet monitoring or content-control devices, may also help addicts recover.

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Treating Sex Addiction

Support groups for sex addicts can be helpful and often follow the 12-Steps used by groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. Counseling or psychotherapy can also help sex addicts. Occasionally, SSRIs and other anti-depressants are used to reduce libido. All treatment plans should also address co-occurring conditions, such as alcoholism or drug addiction.